LUCIOUS POV.
I expected my father to roar back at Alpha Lycan. To stand his ground. To remind Lycan that our pack was not one to be bullied. That Leo never bowed to another Alpha, not in private, never in public.
But instead…
My father inhaled deeply, shoulders rolling back before he slowly turned toward Marissa. His entire posture shifted. His voice dropped, soft and level.
"Marissa," he said, "I spoke harshly. I shouldn't have raised my voice at you. For that… I apologize."
The hallway erupted into stunned whispers.
My mouth fell open.
No. No, no, no. That couldn't be real, this man couldn't be my father.
He bowed his head slightly to Marissa, of all people.
I felt the shock slam into my chest so hard it made me blink.
What is Father doing?
Marissa sniffed dramatically, wiping nonexistent tears as if she'd been the victim of the year.
